Google

Create collaborative documents, forms, spreadsheets, and presentations. Share instantly and securely, and work together in real time. Access your work anytime anywhere. Take a trip around the world with google maps and add images with picasa web. Learn how to use Google's powerful tools to connect students to the world of information and one another.

All About Google Tools
Google is commonly associated with their popular web browser, but they have far more powerful tools that allow teachers and students to be able to
- Create collaborative documents
- Create collaborative PowerPoint presentation and web sites
- Monitor online data.
- Take notes while browsing the Internet
- Manage photos
- Create collaborative maps
- Monitor and participate in discussions
- Publish videos

In addition, Google has gone the extra mile by providing a teacher area with teachers’ guides and exciting examples of classroom teachers using Google Tools to support the use of technology as a mindtool.

Google Docs, Spreadsheets & Presentations:
Google Docs

http://docs.google.com
With a google account you can create documents, spreadsheets and presentations easily AND the collaboration features they have included allow multiple people to edit the same document at the same time. GREAT for the classroom because with the Revisions tab, you can even see which student contributed what).

Create, edit and upload quickly
Import your existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations, or create new ones from scratch.
Access and edit from anywhere
All you need is a Web browser. Your documents, spreadsheets and presentations are stored securely online.
Share changes in real-time
Invite people to your documents and make changes together, at the same time.
It's free
You don't pay a nickel.

Google Docs

Video on "Google Docs in Plain English"

One neat trick is to send an invite to ONE PERSON cc yourself and then post the link to join a doc publicly.

Here is a tutorial presentaion on creating and sharing a document.

Google Presentations

This is an Online slide show application that allows you to store, share, collaborate and publish your slide shows to the Web. You can also present your slide shows Online and allow your viewers to join in a chat as they follow your slide show.

Here is a tutorial presenation on creating an sharing a presenation.

Google Spreadsheets

Start with a blank Spreadsheet…go to share, ask others to fill out a form. Google Spreadsheets is an Online spreadsheet application that allows you to store, share, collaborate and publish your spreadsheets to the Web. Google spreadsheets will perform mathematical functions, graph your data and allow you to collect data via an Online form. There is also a chat feature that allows you to look at data with others and chat about it Online in real time.

Here is a tutorial presentation on creating and sharing a spreadsheet Part 1 enter and graph data.

Here is a tutorail presentation on creating a form and collecting data.
Embedd these on wikis or anypage that accepts HTML code to give yourself even more flexibility!

Reasons for use

Easily share and edit documents, spreadsheets & presentations online.
Collaborative environment that can be accessed from any computer with internet access.
Much more stream-lined for collaboration than email attachments.
Upload documents, spreadsheets, and Power Point presentations to edit online.
Spreadsheets feature- create forms that can serve as surveys, questionnaires or quizzes. Respondants fill out form and the data is automatically fed into your spreadsheet.

Ease of use

Very easy with or without a Google Account.
Editing features are very similar to Microsoft Word.
File folder organizational structure available within Google Docs.

Google Apps